Fit City Texas: Kids in Motion Camp stresses exercise, eating right

SMITH COUNTY (KYTX) - Convincing some kids that exercise is fun can be a tough sell, but that's what ETMC's "Kids in Motion Camp" is all about.

CBS 19's Dana Hughey shows us how the kids are learning a healthy life lesson.

This camp is all about fun. So it works for the very athletic and those who don't want to play sports.

The goal really is to expose 8 to 12 year olds to a variety of activities and nutritious foods, so they can start making healthy choices on their own.

It's not often you'll catch a kid in class willingly over the summer, but these campers at Kids in Motion are soaking up the knowledge.

"Really it is just about having fun and doing your best to not just sit on the couch and watch TV," says Aidan Ebert. "It's about being active really."

In this class, campers are learning how to become nutrition detectives with five simple clues that they'll take home on a magnet.

First, don't be fooled by big letters on the front of the package.

The first ingredient on the list is always the biggest. Avoid partially hydrogenated oil and high-fructose corn-syrup, as well as foods with a long list of ingredients, and fiber is your friend.

"Well it's something new to learn, says Bela Gage. "You get to do new stuff and I have never done pilates before."

Like the name "Kids in Motion" suggests, trainers are introducing them to new, and tried and true ways to move - aerobics, zumba, running, stretching, even self defense.

"So it kind of gets them interested in different forms of exercise, instead of only sport based activities. Not all kids are athletes, but all kids can be active," says Cassie Ebert, ETMC Olympic Center Exercise Specialist.

At the end of the week, instructors hope this, "Kids will not think of certain health aspects as boring or time consuming," says Ebert.

Instead, instructors want the kids to walk away with a more positive view on fitness and food.

They always have healthy snacks at kids in motion camp, but here's the key. The trainers encourage the kids to give it a try, but don't force them to eat it. And many times they do like it. That takes a little pressure off parents at home battling picky eaters.